Brandon "You Can't Handle The Turth" Vera

That's right bitches, this is the man to watch, this is the future of the UFC Light Heavyweight!

Filipinos are taking over the fight game!

:)

Originally Posted by Sifu Rudy Abel

"Just what makes a pure grappler think he can survive with an experienced striker. Especially if that striker isn't following any particular rule set and is well aware of what the grapplers strategies are".

If no one knew his base was grappling, would have said, another win for the Strikers!

When in reality, Brandon is the future, so well rounded, you have no idea what his base, as he is that fucking good in everything!

Originally Posted by Sifu Rudy Abel

"Just what makes a pure grappler think he can survive with an experienced striker. Especially if that striker isn't following any particular rule set and is well aware of what the grapplers strategies are".

I train at The LAB in Fredericksburg with another Irvin Brown Belt, Chad LeBrun, and have been a big Vera fan for awhile.

Lately, especially since Brandon's been on a tear, I keep seeing Lloyd's name brought up in a derogatory fashion, such as on Sherdog recently when people were discussing UFCs fighters, a blurb about Brandon read:

"Brandon Vera: I don't like his attitude or personality, but I'm impressed with his skill. His standup is more than the slugging that we usually see fro HW's, it's actually pretty nice Muay Thai. He's also a bjj brown belt (even if it is under Lloyd Irvin), so he's solid ont he ground. He's got the skill, only problem is the size. Let's see if he can step it up against some slightly better competition, and if he wins, then he could potentially be built into a contender."

I've seen similar comments in other discussions on other boards as well... Now, I don't have blinders on, and I can see how some might not agree with Lloyd's marketing aspect, but is there something I'm missing? I just don't get what all that's about... Especially considering Brandon is obviously a talented fighter and a strong example of the legitimacy of Lloyd's organization.

Don't mean to hijack the thread, just seemed an appropriate place to ask.

Lloyd's guys have skill.
From what I can tell a lot of it is just related to the marketing, and the fact that his guys get promoted fast. Then there is a lot of the tma "master" nonsense.
Of course they put up in competition before any of that.

I've heard they also bring a ton of guys to comps so their team results aren't neccessrily representative of overall skill. But that's what guys at small clubs like mine always say.

I feel it's just negative campaigning and as usual politics of the BJJ world. Lloyd Irvin's marketing, I guess pisses other people off, and bullshit comes out of it.

I happen to think that Lloyd has made other instructors students question things, and it pisses them off.

Originally Posted by Sifu Rudy Abel

"Just what makes a pure grappler think he can survive with an experienced striker. Especially if that striker isn't following any particular rule set and is well aware of what the grapplers strategies are".